Aidy Boothroyd says Watford were denied their first league win of the season by a controversial offside ruling against Ashley Young's late first-half strike.

Boothroyd's enduring confidence in his team is commonly dismissed with a shrug, even a sneer, but on their performance here it is easy to see why the young manager is so fired up. Discounting the play-offs, Watford, the draw specialists, have not won a league fixture since beating QPR in April, but surely it cannot be long now before it happens.

Tottenham, in the ascendancy following two wins in their past three Premiership games, came here searching for their first away win in the league. With the return of their two first-choice strikers, Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, a goal or two could have been expected.

Similarly, Watford struggled with an embarrassment of chances. In the opening minutes the home side won three corners in quick succession, but failed to convert. It was to prove an irritating tic. Tommy Smith's excellent early opportunity was preceded by quality passing in the box and Watford created a good six openings against an unusually porous Tottenham defence, Smith in particular showing up a jittery Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Then, just before half time, Young received a long pass from Hameur Bouazza and sped through to finish past Paul Robinson. The flag went up, but Boothroyd was adamant: 'I've seen it on the [TV] monitor and it was a goal,' he said.

Watford's activity eclipsed Tottenham's efforts in the main, but the visitors' attack was not without its merits. Tom Huddlestone fed balls through from a deep midfield position and from there Hossam Ghaly and Jermaine Jenas provided opportunities for Aaron Lennon, whose electrifying runs brought three fine chances - all saved by the in-form Ben Foster.

In the second half Watford's workrate did not drop. Jay DeMerit and Danny Shittu intercepted a chance for Keane - DeMerit's backheel provoking 'Oohs' from the crowd as he spectacularly nipped the ball behind him and over the bar.

But as the game wore on Tottenham's passing became slicker and it looked as though the visitors might just nick it. Foster was forced to produce yet another save from the rampaging Lennon. 'Lennon had four 100 per cent chances,' said Martin Jol, 'I would have expected him to score one of those. But with Lennon we have to wait one or two years - it will come with experience.'

Young's hopeful long pass to Darius Henderson provoked a late chance, but the striker could not chase fast enough to trouble Robinson.

In the end, it was mission unaccomplished, Watford still inching their way along on a strict diet of single points and Tottenham without the league form truly to convince.

Still, Boothroyd remained upbeat. 'Coming into the Premiership was a fairytale and we're only just starting to wake up,' he said. 'It's all about where we finish, not where we are.'